Argentina created its National Immigration Department on 2 January 1898. The institution was formed during a period of massive European immigration. Its goal was to organize arrivals, monitor labor needs, and support settlement programs. The department also helped shape immigration policies that encouraged newcomers to populate agricultural regions. This helped Argentina develop its workforce and expand rural production. The agency contributed to major demographic shifts that redefined Argentine society during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Its influence can still be seen in the country’s multicultural identity.
